Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has challenged management at Shannon Airport to stand up to attempts by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to poach business that should be contributing to Shannon’s growth.
Reacting to online postings by the DAA describing Dublin as the key gateway for visitors attending the 20126 Ryder Cup in Adare Manor, Deputy Carey said it was unacceptable that representatives of a state-owned company should conduct themselves in a manner contrary to the national interest.
“The DAA should be told to stop focusing its enormous resources on undermining Shannon. For several years this has been apparent in advertising campaigns that have focused on diverting passengers from the Shannon catchment area to fly out of Dublin.
“Their grab for the status of preferred airport gateway for the Ryder Cup in Adare is only the latest example of how the DAA is preying on Shannon’s business,” Deputy Carey explained.
“This latest incident has yet again demonstrated the urgent need for a comprehensive national aviation policy that sets out the criteria of operation and regulates the parameters for each of our airports.
“Without restricting the independence of either the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) or the Shannon Group, a national aviation policy should ensure that the growth of the Dublin monopoly is curtailed in the national interest. The pretence of Dublin being the gateway to everything on this island is a selfish myth and must be called out.
“It is important that the Minister for Transport and the Government faces up to this challenge. It is also important that those responsible for the operation of Shannon Airport and its Board of Management should stand up to this challenge, Deputy Carey concluded.
